Mick grunted. "You've got it."
"So Patterson is still trying to play me."
"It would seem so. What do you want to do?"
"Wait until they call me, then leave."
"I hear you."
Ewyn watched Patterson saunter up to reception, stop to chat with a few of the officers milling about, before he turned in Ewyn's direction. Their gazes met. Ewyn stood and moved to the reception desk.
"Mister Kelley." Patterson extended his hand.
Ignoring Patterson, Ewyn looked at his watch, then reached into the inside breast pocket of his sport coat and retrieved his pen. Refusing to waste a business card on the man, he asked the receptionist for a piece of paper. He jotted down his name and office phone number, and returned the paper to the young woman.
"Please make sure Detective Patterson gets this," he told her. "Tell him I had business to take care of and couldn't wait." He smiled at the stunned look on the woman's face and said, "Thank you." Turning to Mick, he said, "Let's go."
"Now wait a minute," Patterson blustered.
Ewyn continued out the door and never looked back. He had reached his car before he spoke again. "As much as I need closure, I'm not feeding into his BS."
"You shouldn't have to. I'll talk to MacGregor. He can go over Patterson's head."
"Uh-uh, don't bother. Let's wait and see how long it takes the asshole to contact me. When he does, we'll meet on my terms, on my turf. If Devin isn't back by then, I'll handle Patterson."
"Are you sure? I can be there."
"No, Mick. I need to do this myself. The dumb shit needs to understand I won't be intimidated. As a member of the victims' family, I deserve as much respect as any other citizen who pays his salary. I intend being the idiot's wake up call." Ewyn grinned. "I'm the new look of the Calderone family and he'd better get used to it. If he continues to diss me, he's in for a rude awakening, and I doubt he's equipped to deal with it."
Mick laughed. "You've got that right. The dumb ass doesn't get it--the implications of why Mac is so involved with the Calderones. Maybe it will sink in when he has to deal with Devin," he said. "But you know I have your back if you need me."
"I know, and I appreciate everything you, Tag, and Mac have done, but I don't want to wear out my welcome on the minor stuff. I need to save some of your back up for all the help and favors I'll need when I get in over my head taking care of Kieki."
"Kieki?"
"Yeah. I've been calling her Kieki when I'm talking to her."
"I like it," Mick replied. "But I don't think you'll need help with Kieki. For someone so new to the parent game, you're doing great. Nonetheless, Tag and I are there for you and Gemma. Hell. If it were up to Tag, he'd be over at the house every day."
"I've noticed. He's become quite attached to Kieki."
"She reminds him of his baby sister right down to the big gray eyes," Mick said softly. "She's dead now. And coincidentally, her name was Teresa."
Ewyn glanced at Mick.
"Yeah. Kiera's baptismal name." Eyes dark with pain, Mick turned away. "We rarely talk about her death anymore. Tag and I met, working on her case. But hey, it's a story we can save for another time."
"Damn. I'm sorry. Tag is welcome to spend as much time as he can with Kieki. She needs all the loving we can give her." Ewyn pulled up outside the Silver Fox. "Thanks," he said as Mick climbed out of the Mustang.
"Not a problem."
"I'll call if the shit gets too deep with Patterson."
Ewyn put his car in gear and headed back to work. By the time he reached his office, Patterson had left a voicemail. Ewyn listened to an apology and a request to reschedule their meeting for tomorrow. He erased the message and dialed the detective's number.
"Patterson."
"Ewyn Kelley. I'm afraid I can't make it tomorrow. My weekends are full. However, if you can come to my place tonight--not the family estate--I'll be able to give you a few minutes," Ewyn told him. "You have the address, right?"
There was a moment of silence then Patterson cleared his throat and said, "Yes, I do. What time?"
"Does eight o'clock work for you?"
"I'll see you then." Patterson disconnected with a bang.
Ewyn chuckled and hung up the phone. He swiveled his chair around to face the window and sat there staring at his reflection, watching a slow smile alter the contours of his mouth.
The doorbell pealed just as Ewyn came out of the bedroom with Kiera in his arms. He took his time settling her in the playpen and turning on the mobile above her head before heading to the door. The bell rang again.
After talking to Patterson earlier, Ewyn vowed he wouldn't let the man provoke him. He wanted to know the details of the accident, and he needed to retrieve his nieces' personal effects. He took a deep breath and opened the door. Patterson stood there with a small storage box in his hands, looking as unkempt as the previous times Ewyn had seen him. Ewyn so wanted to offer the man a few grooming and fashion tips.
"Patterson." Ewyn left the detective standing on the threshold and returned to the living room. He heard the door close, then Patterson's footsteps crossing the tile floor. Ignoring the man, he went to the playpen to check on Kiera.
"Mister Kelley."
Ewyn turned and watched Patterson walk into the room. The man looked around, eyes widening as if he'd never been indoors before. "Have a seat. I have to get Kieki's bottle," he said as he headed toward the kitchen.
"Kieki?" Patterson placed the box on the coffee table and strolled over to the playpen. "Oh yeah, the older girl was pregnant."
From the kitchen, Ewyn watched Patterson bend over the playpen, then stiffen. His head jerked up and he looked across the room. Ewyn pinned him with a stare. "Another black mark, no pun intended, against the Calderones, huh?"
"No. The baby…I thought…" Patterson stuttered then shrugged. "Never mind, it was a surprise."
"A surprise?" Ewyn snorted. "Being a detective, I would have thought you should have known," he mocked. "Have a seat. Are you off duty? Would you like something to drink?"
"Yes, to both questions. I'll take a beer, if you have it." Patterson sat on the edge of the sofa looking uncomfortable as he continued to peer around the room.
"Heineken work for you?"
"Yes, thanks. Nice place," Patterson added. "I understand the owner of record is Devin Piers Nilsson. Occupation…sales rep for Expiation, Inc. Are you renting?"
"Been doing your homework, Detective?" Ewyn chuckled. "Then save us both some time. You know damn well who Devin is, you know we live here together, and you know my relationship to him."
"Right. Is he home? I have a few questions for him."
"Would you give it a rest? As a sales rep, Devin travels quite a bit, but you know that. And before you ask, let me verify," Ewyn remarked. "I'm the IS manager at the same company." He sighed. "I know you've already checked, so…shall we can the bullshit and move on to the real reason you're here?"
Ewyn came out of the kitchen carrying two beer bottles in one hand and a baby bottle in the other. "Don't worry, you'll meet Devin soon enough. I can assure you, after I tell him about you, he won't require an appointment." He grinned. "Do you need a glass?"
"No," Patterson snapped. "And you're right. I had both of you checked out, and it didn't do much good. I didn't learn any more than what you've just told me.
"Maybe it's because we're law-abiding citizens?"
"Yeah, right. With connections to the Calderones," Patterson scoffed. "Nobody at the Sheriff's department has ever heard of your company."
"Why would they? Unless they're looking for the type of services we provide." Ewyn handed one beer to Patterson then bent and opened a little chrome box on the table. He pulled out two coasters, set his beer on one, and handed the other to Patterson before going to the playpen.
"And just what are those services. Your company isn't listed in the phone book."
Ewyn stopped moving and looked at the detective with obvious feig
ned surprise. "Are you serious? I'm shocked. Must be word-of-mouth keeping us in business, huh."
"What exactly does Expiation, Inc. sell?"
"Uh…solutions?"
"I'm asking you," the detective growled. "Solutions to what?"
"Listen, Detective. Our company is U.S. G-O-V-T contracted, so you should take your questions to the current administration." Ewyn smiled. "Enough said?"
He picked up Kiera, tossed a burp cloth across his shoulder, and settled back on the sofa with her tucked in the crook of one arm. He touched the bottle's nipple to her lips and she latched on. Ewyn then turned to Patterson and caught him staring as if he'd never seen a baby drinking from a bottle. "Is there a problem?"
"No. It's…I thought…um…she's a pretty little thing."
Ewyn's gaze strafed Kiera's features. "She is."
"About the accident. There are a few facts I need clarified." Patterson cleared his throat. "If Gregorio is your brother, why the different last names? Are you stepbrothers? Kelley was your mother's maiden name."
"Yeah, so what. Is it relevant to this matter, Detective?"
"I don't know. I'm asking just to cover all the bases," Patterson replied. "There's no record of you being part of the Calderone group? Where do you fit into the family? How come no one knows about you?"
Ewyn gave Patterson a sidelong glance. "Who says no one knows? Are you keeping tabs on the Calderones? I thought racketeering came under the auspices of the FBI," he remarked. "Must be a lot of work for you local boys."
"That's not an answer."
"It's my answer," Ewyn countered. "As I said, my relationship to Gregorio Calderone isn't germane to the accident or anything else. All you need to know is we're related. I say I'm his brother, and I'm head of the Calderone family in his absence. Leave it alone, Detective. You do not want to go there."
"Is that supposed to be some kind of threat?"
Ewyn shrugged. "Take it any way you want."
"I'll eventually get the answers I'm looking for, one way or another."
"Good luck with that." Ewyn snorted. "Now, about the accident…"
"Fine. Do you know anyone who would want to hurt your nieces? Someone connected to your brother's business?"
"What are you saying, Detective? It wasn't an accident." Ewyn glanced down at Kiera and smiled. Her eyes were starting to close, but she reflexively continued to suck on the nipple.
"Oh, it was an accident, all right. However, your brother's disappearance without a trace, combined with evidence of someone else being in your niece's car, brings up a multitude of questions about the cause of the accident." Patterson looked directly at Ewyn. "We found a gun in the car. Carolyn died from a gunshot wound."
"What!" Ewyn shouted, startling Kiera, who jerked awake, eyes wide, hands trembling, and her little legs stiffening. "Shh-yit," he hissed in an undertone. "How come I wasn't given that information at the hospital? Or when you came to the estate." He eased off the sofa. "Wait. Let me put Kieki in her crib." He hurried into the bedroom, settled Kiera in her bed, turned on the baby monitor, and then turned on the stereo, which had become part of their nightly routine.
Once, when the ringing of his phone had disturbed Kiera, through trial and error, he had discovered music could soothe her back to sleep. Since then, he just turned on the music as soon as he put her to bed then nothing disturbed her.
He put George Winston's December CD into the disc player, adjusted the volume, and dimmed the bedroom lights as he left the room. He strode over to the sofa, snatched his beer off the coffee table and took a long swig, then started pacing.
"Let's hear it."
"I didn't have the information when I came to the Calderone estate, and you showed up at the hospital right after the girls had died. Hospital personnel only had time for minimum cleanup for proper identification. The younger girl wasn't stripped until the bodies were removed to the morgue." Patterson paused. "If you'll recall, I've been trying to connect with you…left messages with your attorney, yet you didn't feel the need to respond."
"Yeah. Some people have that effect on me." Ewyn stopped pacing and sat down. "And your messages weren't specific. Why didn't you tell my attorney?"
"There are some details I don't like discussing on the phone," Patterson snapped. "Besides, when I received the information, there was nothing anyone could have done to change the outcome. As uncouth as you may think I am, I didn't think I should interrupt the funeral with that type of news."
"Uh-huh. Or you decided to play out your version of check…checkmate?"
"Listen. No one thought to examine her before she reached the morgue, since all outward appearances suggested she had died like her sister, as the result of injuries sustained in the crash. The small caliber of the gun made the wound unnoticeable until the medical examiner x-rayed her body, and discovered the bullet," he explained. "Because of the nature of her injuries, an autopsy wasn't a priority, and the ME didn't get to her until the day before the mortuary retrieved the bodies. Hell. Even after finding the gun in the car, quite a few women carry guns, the Calderone name came up--"
"The assumption being people like the Calderones carry guns and deserve whatever happens to them, right?" Eyes narrowing, Ewyn held his temper in check. "Go on."
"Mister Kelley. If I had suspected anything but a tragic car accident, I would have pursued my suspicion from day one, as diligently as any other homicide, regardless of the Calderone name," Patterson declared. "I have been pursuing it from the moment I became aware a crime had been committed, without your family's cooperation, and despite the FBI's interference. I'll continue to do so until it's resolved. However, at this point, I need answers and cooperation from you and your family to help with my investigation."
"Right." Ewyn nodded. "What else do you have?"
Patterson sighed. "The ME found the gunshot wound and contacted me. Thinking it could have been an accidental shooting, I had to wait for the coroner's full report, and those findings led me to believe it was a homicide."
"Why?"
"From the bullet's trajectory and location, the Gun Shot Residue on Carolyn's hands and the sleeves of her clothing, she must have grabbed the gun. With the muzzle in her hands, the gun went off," he said. "She was in the backseat, passenger side. Nicole had been strapped into the front passenger seat when we retrieved the car from the ravine. So the perp must have been the driver."
"Damn." Tears of angry frustration welled up in Ewyn's eyes. "Any idea who…man, woman…"
"No. The damage to the car, smudged prints--the rain didn't help either. Once we verify which prints belong to the girls, we'll run the others through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, just in case we get lucky with a point match on a few of them," Patterson explained. "I doubt we'll get anything viable."
"Why?
"The cold. Nicole had been wearing gloves and Carolyn's were in her jacket pocket. More than likely the perp had on gloves." Patterson flipped a page in his notebook, checked his notes, and said, "We found blood trace on the steering wheel and the dashboard on the driver's side. Neither girl was in the driver's seat. Once we eliminate the possibility of it being your nieces' blood, we'll run it through the COmbined DNA Index System."
"Which will be useless if your unknown subject doesn't have priors. He or she won't be on the grid," Ewyn stated.
"True."
"Gun unregistered, serial numbers filed off."
"You've got it."
"I understand the ATF has a process for retrieving filed off numbers. It's not a hundred percent proof, but worth a try?"
"You know about that?" Patterson looked impressed.
"Yeah." Ewyn smirked. "Devin has an interest in it. Guess I've picked up a few things from him."
"I'm already looking into the feasibility of getting the ATF to run the tests."
"I understand."
"There's more," Patterson told him.
Chapter 5
"What else could there possibly be?"
/> "Once I realized I had a homicide, I thought maybe it was a carjacking gone wrong. Until I went to Pepperdine and spoke to the girls' roommates."
"And?"
"Jennifer Cardiff, Nicole's roomy said your nieces had been AWOL from college for the six months prior to their deaths."
"No! We spoke on the phone every other month, they never said…" Ewyn mumbled and shook his head. "I had no idea. Hadn't seen them since spring break. What in the world would make them leave school for such a long period without telling me or their aunt?"
"Good question. The combination of circumstances-- the gun, their absence from school, their father's disappearance--aroused my suspicions. The roommates said it wasn't normal for your nieces to ditch school." The detective sighed. "And I have to admit, the Calderone name played the bigger part in my suspicions." He picked up his beer and leaned back.
"I went through the things found in Nicole's car, but nothing jumped out at me, relative to the deaths. I also talked to Anthony Calabria--one of those snot-nosed rich kids who think the world revolves around him. Said he and Nicole had been friends since freshman year. Know him?"
"I've met the roommates, but never heard of this Calabria," Ewyn stated. "What was he…a boyfriend?"
Patterson shrugged. "According to him, he, Nicole, and Carolyn were like brother and sisters, yet he claims he had no idea where they had been for six months. He assumed they had gone home because of their aunt's illness. School administration had a similar story from Nicole regarding family leave."
"For six months, and why now? My aunt has been sick for close to two years, and she has around-the-clock care." Ewyn frowned. "If this Calabria and Nicole were like brother and sister as he claims, it's odd he would assume she went to the estate."
"Not really. According to Jennifer, Calabria and Nicole were best friends. But within the last year, something changed, but Jennifer doesn't know why." Patterson paused and took a few gulps of beer. "Jennifer thinks Calabria took the role of brother too far, and Nicole's reticence about the baby's father could have alienated the two friends. Maybe Calabria's persistence in learning the truth prompted Nicole to get away for a while, and since she was pregnant, rather than let her go alone, Carolyn went along."
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